WINNEMUCCA - Usually homecoming week brings a number of distractions with all the school events that go on. That was not the case for the Lowry High School football team.
With the aid of a number of Elko miscues, the Buckaroos rolled to a 41-7 victory on Friday night. By the six-minute mark of the first quarter Elko, ran just four offensive, plays, had three penalties called on them and committed three turnovers, including a fumble on the opening kickoff.
"We made a lot of mistakes at the beginning of the game and it was something we could not recover from," said EHS head coach Luke Sellers. "We have to take care of the ball. They are a good team and took full advantage of our mistakes. We are going through the rough part of our schedule. I think this whole year is going to be a gauntlet."
Lowry (5-1 overall, 4-1 Division I-A) scored 14 points in the first quarter, with Elko (1-4 overall, 1-4 Division I-A) running just one offensive play.
"We started off with guns a blazing," said LHS head coach Tim Billingsley. "We were firing on all cylinders. We took advantage of Elko's mistakes. We seem to be getting better every week and that is what we are looking for."
Following the Indians' fumble on the opening kickoff, it took the Buckaroos just over two minutes to drive 48 yards for a touchdown that was capped off by a 6-yard run by Michal Arenas.
Elko's Dalton Ridgeway was intercepted by Lowry's Calvin Connors on the Indians' first offensive play of the game. The Buckaroos turned that miscue into seven points on a 1-yard run by Brandon Okuma.
Elko committed its third turnover of the first quarter three plays later as Connors picked off Ridgeway for a second time. Lowry started its third drive of the game in Elko territory and scored a third touchdown, this time a 5-yard run by Connors for a 21-0 lead with 3:23 left in the first quarter.
The Indians picked up their initial first down of the game with three minutes left in the first quarter and drove to the Buckaroo 33-yard line before having to punt.
With the ball back, Lowry drove 86 yards, with a 19-yard pass by Connors to Robert Stepper on third and nine to keep the drive alive. Connors concluded the drive with and 11-yard touchdown scamper on a bootleg.
It was much of the same in the second half as Lowry scored on an 80-pass play from Connors to Josh Shaver on a third and 10 play for a 35-0 lead. Connors was 10-of-14 passing for 220 yards and two touchdowns on the night. The junior also led Lowry with 52 rushing yards.
"We have been a one-dimensional team for a while and teams have been keying on our run," Billingsley said. "I thought we threw the ball well tonight."
The Indians went three-and-out on their first drive of the second half and a short punt gave the Buckaroos excellent field position.
Lowry appeared to have added to its lead on a 38-yard run by Okuma on the next play, but the touchdown was called back on a penalty. Despite the flag, the Buckaroos marched down the field and scored on a 6-yard run by Okuma, with 7:07 left in the third quarter.
The Buckaroos began substituting freely from there, removing Connors from quarterback and replacing him with Tanner Lecumberry.
The Indians got on the scoreboard with eight minutes left in the game on a 9-yard run by former Buckaroo Cody Green.
"We have to toughen up and keep playing - that's the bottom line," Sellers said. "We have four games to go and we have to keep working."
Lowry begins a two-game road trip on Friday, when they face Sparks at 7 p.m. The Railroaders are winless on the year and lost 62-0 to Elko.
"We have a few kids banged up and we will take it easy with them at the beginning of the week," Billingsley said. "We need to keep on winning to get a playoff spot secured."
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